What's your wireless strategy?

Three years ago, everyone wanted to know what your Internet strategy was - your boss, the board of directors, shareholders, even your neighbors. While the hype surrounding wireless technologies hasn't quite reached the level of the Internet mania of 2000, there is a growing recognition that wireless will have an impact on business beyond elimination of some wiring.

Wireless thinking is at least partly philosophical - it asks business managers how they might do things differently if they could communicate with employees, or customers, at any time and any place.

If there's some confusion in this area, it's because "wireless" seems to encompass so many technologies - wireless (cell) phones, cable-free offices, campus-wide or city-wide networks, PDAs or laptops that are always connected to the Internet, etc.

Nevertheless, forward-thinking managers are finding creative ways to put the flexibility of wireless technology to use. A few examples include:

• Using inexpensive cell phones to track the movements of service or delivery vehicles.
• Using wireless handsets for all employees to dramatically increase the percentage of incoming call completions on the first try.
• Creating flexible office spaces where employees can move from office to office without being tethered to a network connection.
• Bypassing costly leased lines and delivering voice and data services to nearby company locations.

Nextel Blackberry 6510 PDA/Cell Phone

The explosion of wireless isn't without its problems. Security is a concern, although properly configured wireless networks can be secured as well as conventional wired networks.  According to Alex Petrovic, Senior Systems Engineer and security specialist at CompStar Technologies, there are several layers of defense for wireless networks.  "You can encrypt the transmissions to avoid interception, you can implement wireless authentication using the unique hardware addresses of your authorized users, and then you further authenticate any wireless user attempting to log onto the network."

A different kind of wireless drawback relates to user behavior.  Being connected all the time can create distractions - meeting attendees may resort to surfing the web on their laptops or PDAs when bored, leading to a less-than-productive exchange of ideas.

Despite the occasional perceived drawback, though, wireless is widely expected to be the "Next Big Thing".  Intel, for example, has announced a new line of chips to power wireless laptops.  The new laptops that will feature Intel's Centrino chips combine much longer battery life with built-in wireless network access, and are designed for high mobility users who want to stay connected even when not at their desks.

For its part, Microsoft has built easy wireless networking into Windows XP. Most other major technology firms are also placing bets on wireless.

As with the earlier Internet craze, it's important to evaluate the business benefits of an planned technology adoption and avoid being stampeded into a rash investment. Nevertheless, expect to be asked the question, "What's your wireless strategy?"

CompStar Resources:
  Wireless Networking
  Wireless Phones and PDAs
  Wireless Brochure (PDF format)

Article: Wireless That Works (ZDNet) - lots of in-depth information and links to other articles.

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CompStar Technologies is a leading Indiana-based provider of networking, technology, and communications services. With offices in Mishawaka (serving South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Niles, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan) and Indianapolis, CompStar provides network design / support, network security, wireless networking, business telephone systems, VoIP (voice over IP), and cctv / video surveillance systems. CompStar is the Technology Division of Direct Line Communications, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.